Disclaimer: R-U-M-I-K-O! T-A-K-A-H-A-S-H-I! Now! What does that spell? RUMIKO TAKAHASHI!!!!!! And she owns the show Inuyasha.Not me.Arigatou.
Love Me as I Am
Chapter 55- On the Trail
Kagome stood up abruptly and hurried over to him, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"What is it?"
Shippo grasped the rim of the doorway and panted slightly, trying to catch his breath.
"A group of cubs went out a couple of days ago to hunt. They were old enough to watch over themselves.or at least we thought. They haven't come back yet and they're usually back by morning."
"Have you sent out search parties? There sure are enough of you."
"Hai.but they've all disappeared."
"I smell Naraku somewhere in all this chaos. Exactly how many have you lost?"
"Fifteen."
Kagome's eyes widened as she whisked around to face Inuyasha.
"We have to help them."
"You don't have to tell ME that. Let's go!"
"But wait.what about Kuneau?"
"Leave her with Menka. She wont ask questions. She already knows how weird we are." Yasuo suggested with a small chuckle.
Inuyasha nodded and sped off down the road, Kuneau tucked gently in his arms. Minutes later he was back. Everyone else had already filed out of the house and was waiting in the front yard.
"Sango.you CAN'T come."
"HOW many times have I told you? If this is truly our last battle with Naraku, I'm OBLIGATED to come. I have to! I can fight from a distance with Hiraikotsu if I must. Besides.Kilala is coming and she's never failed us before has she?"
Miroku knew nothing he could say would stop Sango. She was too headstrong and ambiguous. He sighed in defeat.
"Fine. But don't be too hard on yourself alright? I wouldn't want anything to happen to--"
"--the baby.I know. Come on. We're wasting time now." Sighed Sango as she took his hand, her voice considerably softer now.
She knew what his intentions were. To keep her safe. To keep the baby safe. But after all she'd been through with the gang she just couldn't bear to sit back while they fought. She could never forgive herself! Kilala let Sango climb on, Miroku behind her then sped off beside Tobi, who was carrying both Yasuo and Suki.
Inuyasha had decided to carry Kagome on his back and run on foot while Kanaye, having no other choice, did the same. He liked running better anyway.
Shippo led them back to the cave where they could start their search. Everyone had already spread out a bit to look for clues that could help the slightest bit.
"Kagome, do you sense the shards anywhere?"
A moment of silence passed before Kagome looked over to him.
"Nothing. But he could be concealing them. It's not at all unlike him to pull something like that."
Inuyasha nodded in agreement.
"Now where do we go?" asked Trinity as Kanaye came to a stop beside Inuyasha.
"I'm not sure.somethin' smells fishy."
"What are you thinking Inuyasha?"
"Well, if you put all the pieces together, it's like one big giant puzzle. Naraku wants us to try and find the missing kitsune youkai and in turn we'll fall into another one of his traps."
"Well.what else are we supposed to do?" wondered Sango.
"I don't know yet.but.I was thinking. Maybe we should play along with this until we find a good time to attack him or at least come up with some.more developed plan.or something."
"But how do we know it's not just going to be another demon puppet?" wondered Miroku.
"He usually doesn't hide far from where he sends the puppets correct? He needs to keep an eye on them you know."
"Wow Inuyasha. You DO have a brain in that thick head of yours." Kagome teased as she moved the hair away from the back of his neck and kissed him, causing him to shiver a bit.
"Y-yeah.I uh.just put two and ten together and.uh."
"No time for mushy stuff you guys. We've got some demon to fry." Coached Kanaye, actively sniffing the air.
"No sign of him yet, but I do sense something strange."
Miroku nodded.
"Me too."
"Shippo. Which way did you send the search parties?" wondered Sango, already on the case.
Shippo pointed to the left, straight into the forest as Sango nodded to Miroku who was seated behind her still on Kilala.
"Everyone.this way."
Shippo was left standing alone at the entrance of the cave. He wanted to help them. Every fiber in his body wanted to help them. But at the same time, he had a duty to protect Karlie and the others. While some of the family had strayed away, he still had everyone else to look after. Shippo sighed as he felt Karlie's arms wrap around him.
"You tried love. It's all up to them now. We can only hope.and pray."
~*~*~
"Have you found anything suspicious?" Inuyasha yelled to the group who was scattered in all different directions and searching every part of the forest.
No one said anything. They were apparently as clueless as him. Literally.
"There's nothing here dad. I smell traces of them but I don't see anything."
"Well at least SOMEONE'S listening to me."
"Inuyasha look over here!"
Inuyasha sprinted over to where Kagome was kneeling on the ground. She held a crumpled up slip of paper between her fingers with some strange symbols scribbled on it in ink.
"What is it?"
"A sutra. Recognize it? Shippo used a similar sutra when he bound you to that statue the day we met him."
"I'm supposed to remember that long ago?"
"Well.the pain of having a statue sitting on your hands shouldn't be something so easily forgotten."
Inuyasha cringed and opened one eye to look at her.
"Okay.thank you for those painful memories. I remember now."
"Look."
Kagome pointed to a trail that was made straight through the bushes. The plants were smashed and branches were broken.
"It looked like there was a struggle." Trinity observed.
"Hai. Footprints." Said Suki as she pointed to some kitsune prints in the dirt.
"I think we have ourselves a trail."
~*~*~
A fire was lit in the fireplace again and Sesshomaru sat beside Rin. But it wasn't just them now. Kunara was snuggled up in Sesshomaru's lap lying against his chest sleeping.
Rin sighed holding onto his arm and stroking her hair. They had arranged the wedding and Kunara had been told they were getting married by way of demon custom due to Sesshomaru's blood and that they would be gone for a day or two for the private ceremony.
She didn't quite understand, being only eight, but that didn't matter so much anymore. What Rin didn't tell her was that she would be in pain afterward and probably on a few days of bedrest, but when the time came to tell her she would. She didn't want Kunara to worry.
Sesshomaru turned his head to look out the window just as a distant flash of light exploded from the forest and lit up the entire sky.
"What is it?" asked Rin, noticing his almost content looking expression had changed.
"Something's happening out there. And I sense Naraku has something to do with it."
"Should you go?"
Sesshomaru waited a couple minutes before answering her.
"I think perhaps I should.this just may be it."
Rin looked hopefully up at him, her eyes shimmering with hope.
"Go and help them then." She said, taking Kunara from his arms gently and holding her.
"We'll be waiting for you."